Cloth-cutting machine



-H. A. MEYER. LoTH CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATIO FILED MAY 24, vE920- l435,125 Patented Nov. 7, 1922a 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. A. MEYER.

CLOTH CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICAHON msu MAY 24, |920.

Patented Nov. 7, 1922.,

3 SHEETS-SHEET .3.

y@ 'H f x Patented Nov. 7, 1922.

HENRY A. MEYER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WOLF ELECTRICAL PROMOTINGCOMIJANY, or CINCINNATI, oI-IIO, a CORPORATION or OHIO.

CLOTH-CUTTING MACHINE.

Application led May 24, 1920.

To all whom z'z may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. MEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Cloth-Cutting Machines, 0f which t-he following is a specification.

Hy invention relates to cloth cutting mal0 chincs employing a reciprocating knife.

It is the object of my invention to provide novel protecting means for the driving means for the knife; further, to provide novel means for conducting a lubricating fluid to the guide for the knife; further, to provide such means with novel viewing means for the How of lubricating fluid; and, further, to provide novel lubricating means for a reciprocating knife, and regulating means for regulating the flow of lubricating fluid located in substantially the longitudinal projection of the motor and. in adjacency to the driving means for the knife.

The invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawingsl in which latter:

Fig. l is a side elevation of a cloth cutting machine, partly broken away, embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical axial section of the same, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, the rear part of the machine being removed.

Fig. lis a vertical cross-section of' a detail of my improved device, taken on the line ll of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detail ol" my improved device partly broken away, showing the means for guiding, regulating and viewing the flow of lubricating fluid.

Fig. 6 is a rear,elevation of the protecting reservoir.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional detail of the same, taken in the plane of the line 7 7 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a plan section of my improved device, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. l.

same, taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. l; and,

Fig. l() is a cross-sectional detail, taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1.

I havefound it desirable in a machine of the character mentioned to provide lubricat- Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional detail of the Serial No. 383,630.

mg means whereby to impart lubricating fluid to the reciprocating knife and its guidway so as to lubricate the same. I have also found that, in providing a means of this character, it is desirable that the lubricating fluid be directed to a` point in close proxannity to the knife. I have further found that, by providing my improved device, the range of work on a machine of this char acter has been materially increased. lI provide means whereby the flow of .lubricating fluid may be regulated from a point adja-V cent to the point of application of the lubricating fluid, and have also provided view Ing means between the regulating means and the point of application of the lubricating fiuid, whereby the amount of lubricating fluid applied to the knife may at all times be promptly regulated so as to cause decrease, increase, or cessation of flow of lubricating fluid, immediately that requirement for change in flow of lubricating fluid is noted. L'

It is essential that an overflow or flooding of lubricating fluid shall not take place when not desired, as otherwise the lubricating fluid, for instance oil, will communicate itself to the cloth which is being out, which is at times extremely delicate in color and texture, and is liable to be dama-ged by contact of lubricating fluid therewith. Other cloths which the device is adaptable for cutting, require a substantially greater flow of lubricating fluid. Some of the materials to which I have adapted the device require so great a flow of lubricating fluid as to cause lubrication practically at that part of the knife which passes through the goods, so as to apply lubrication between the knife and the goods, for instance, when cuttingrul berizcd or leatherized cloths or fabrics, such as the cloths or fabrics for automobile. tops, seats, and other materials.

The reciprocating knife is exemplified at 2l. It reciprocates in a. standard 22. the standard being provided in the present exemplification with a narrow guideway 23, the walls of which guide the knife in its reciprocations. The standard rises from a usual footplate 24, supported on suitable rollers, not shown, which has a usual clothlifter 25 pivoted thereto in advance thereof. The cloth-lifter and foot-plate pass under the cloth or other flexible goods, which is laid in layers one on top of the other, to

form a stack ol layers 'of the flexible goods, which are simultaneously cut by the reciprocating,l knife alongl the lines olf a suitable pattern, or otherwise. il. suitable presserfoot Q7 is shown adjustable in elevation so as to coact with the upper 'if-ace ot the top layer of the stack of layers or flexible goods.

An electric motor 31 is exemplilied as the motive power tor rcciijirocatingr the knife. The motor comprises a casinp- 32, shown as containing fields and the operating sha-ft, shown as an armature-shaft 3a, ot the electric motor, the armattire-shaft beingv journaled in the suitable bearings, one ol' which is shown at A crank 3G is lined in suitable ina-nner to the arniature-slialit, as by means olf a set-bolt 3T, The crank has a c 'ank-pin 38 thereon.

il recip.roc/ating` slide ll reciprocatcs up and down in guides adjustably secured in suitable manner, as by set-screws 4.3 and clamp-screws Zlllin a housing l5 having brackets LG extending' therefrom, and secured, as by screws il?, to the motor casing'. The motor casing is supported on the standard 22, as by providing,` the standard with a bracket 50received between the brackets 46, the brackets 50 and 46 being;- clamped together by bolts 5l and nuts 52. y

The slide is provided with a journal-stud 55. A pitman 56 connects the crank with the slide, the pitman having a bearing 57 about the crank-pin 38, and a bearing` 5S, about the journal-stud 55, the pitman being suitably held in operative positions, as by washers 59, 60, and screws 61, 62, coacting respectively with the crank-pin and the journal-stud.

The reciprocating knifeis exempliiied as secured to the reciprocating slide, as by providing the slide with a lug 65, through which a bolt G6 passes. The upper end oi the knife is provided with a slot 6'?, forming upward extensions or .Vingers 68 ot the knilfe at the respective sides or the slot, The lingers are received at the respective sides ofi the bolt, and are clamped between the head 69 of the bolt and the lug 65 by means ol.` nut 70, which clamps the parts lixcdly 'together, but enables ready release o'lt the knife by the unscrewingof the nut and the downward movement oil the knife throne-li the lower slot 7l in the foot-plate.

A shelf 74 is secured to the housing 45, as by screws 75, and has an absorbent pad 76 thereon, consistingfor instance ol a strip of felt, which is held tothe shal't by spring; clips 77. This pad is provided with a slot 7 9, the forward end of whichvis narrow, so that the walls thereoic engage the sides ol the front portion. olf the knife, which is ex- 1 and fully expose the upper end ol' the knifeslot 23 in the standard upwardly, and form a lubricant receiving` pocket. v

l provide a protectingu cover S3 for the crank and upper end olf the pitman, and r form this cover as a reservoir Set for the lubricating` fluid. n the present exemplication the cover is provided with a. surrounding,` container, comprising the double walls 85, 86, the trent wall 87, and the rear wall 8S, which latter is extended as a flange 89, by means oit which the cover is secured to the casing, as by screws 90. In the present exemplication, the crank-plate and the upper end or" the pitman operate within the surrounding double walls olI the reservoir 'for the lubricating' fluid, the pitinan operating in the lower opening` 91 ot the reservoir. e

The lower ends ot the reservoir at the respective. sides of the crank and pitnian are preferably connected by a connecting p ,f sagre, shown as a tube 93, so that the lubricating' fluid at both sides et the reservoir may find its way to the discharge passage of the reservoir. llihe upper end ol' the reservoir is provided with an opening` 9b, adapted to be closed by a cap 97, shown having` screw-threaded connection 98 therewith, and having an air-hole 99 therein for supplying` atmospheric pressure in the interior of the reservoir.

One ci the limbs or downwardly entending` portions of" the reservoir is provided 'with an exit-port lOl, with which a ti connects, the tube being` provided with a valve 103, having a drip-nipple 10i. The valve is provided with a handle "i'he valve is shown as a conical plus valve spring` 106 between the valve-casinn` and a pin 107 in the valve-stem continucufy closely seat-ing' the salve-plug to ,n'evri... leakage olf the valve. Y

A passage for the lubrieating` fluid is pruvided, shown in the liorin 'oli a tube lill, the upper end olffwliich is shown a tunnel lli l. immediately below the valve i053, but having a view-space 112 lietween the drip end olf the valve and the funnel, so that the qnency oli the chipping or the drops or the flow oil? lubricating` fluid and the sizes olf the drops or stream of lubricating` fluid may be readily viewed by the operator during the tion immediately observed, by reason of the proximity olE the valve and the viewing point of the lubricating 'luid to each other and to the place ot application oli the lubrieating `fluid to the kniile.

The upper part ol" the coni'lucting tube lll) is shown mounted on a flange 11-1 attached to the slide housing 45 by screws 115. The tube is provided with a mouth 116 immediately above the'upper end of the knife slot 28 in the standard 22, and in close proximity to the rear edge 117 of the knife. Theupper end of the standard is at this point preferably provided with a rearwardly and up-` wardly sloping wall 119 to guidethe lubrieating fluid which may drip thereon to the guide-slot of the knife,

The lubricating fluid vis fed tothe rear edge of the knife and the rear edge of the knife-slot will, by the rapid reciprocations of the knife, and by the action of gravity, find its way throughout the length of the rear edge of the knife, so as to effectually lubricate the same, and prevent undue wear. The lubricating fluid thus fed preferably flows past the pad 7 6 into contact with the knife and into the knife slot.

In case of the feeding of an excess amount 0f lubricating fluid, which would have a tendencyto damage the goods or be unclean or untidy in the workmanship, the flow or dripping of lubricating fluid may be immediately diminished, and the diminution in the flow or dripping'of the lubricating fluid immediately observed, the consequent diminution of flow or dripping of lubricating fluidfed to the knife being practically instantaneous, on account of the adj acency of the valve and the viewing means to the point of application of the lubricating fluid.

My improved device is capable of agreat flow and valso of an extremely small flow of lubricating fluid, and of instant regulation of the flow, and provides a novel ample reservoir for the lubricating fluid, placed in novel manner,v the flow of lubricating fluid being constantly within view of the operator so as to enable the operator to coniziuuallyvv control the same. l

If it is desired to supply sufficient amount of lubricating fluid to lubricate the 'front portion ofthe knife, as when cutting certain fabrics, for instance rubberized or leatherized fabrics, the dripping or flow of lubricating fluid may be increased to cause the lubricating fluid to exude between the walls of the knife-slot and the knife-blade into contact with the exposed portion of the knife-blade and with the fabric being cut. If desired, the flow may be increased sufficiently to saturate the absorbent pad 6, whereby a film of lubricating fluid is continuously supplied to the exposed portion of the knife. The passage between the funnel and the knife-slot is readily cleaned. The pad is readily replaced by simply raising the spring clips 77 and substituting a different pad. v

By means of my improved device a reservoir of large capacity is provided in a pesition which will not interfere with the operation of the machine or the viewing of its operations, the reservoir acting as a protection for the operative connections between the crank and the pitman. In the exemplification, the reservoir and the drip-valve are located in substantially the longitudinal projection of the motor-casing, to accomplish the ideas of convenience and compactness of structure, the arrangement of the parts also minimizing the danger of injury to or breakage of the parts.

IIaving thus fully described my invention. what I claim as new, and desire to secure b v Letters Patent, is: y

1. In a cloth cutting machine, the combination of a rotatable driving part. a reciprocating knife located lower than said driving part, a pitman connection between said rotatable driving part and said knife, a protective casing for said pitman connection comprising a reservoir for lubricating fluid located higher than said reciprocating knife, and conducting means for the lubricating fluid for said knife leading from said reservoir, said conducting means comprising a viewing part for the lubricating fluid located at the front part of the machine proximate to the upper end of said knife so as to be within the view of the operator while operating the machine.

2.- In a reciprocating knife cloth cutting machine, the combination of an operating crank, a pitman having operative connection therewith, said pitman having operative connection with the reciprocatingl knife, a lubricant reservoir having a double horse-shoe shaped wall received about the path of said crank and having an opening between the lower ends of the limbs of said double horse-shoe shaped wall, said lower ends presented downwardly, said pitman projecting through said opening, and a lubricant feeding duct between said. reservoir and said knife.

3. In a reciprocating knife clot-h cutting machine, the combination of an operating crank, a pitman having operative connection therewith, said pitman having operative connection with the reciprocating knife, a lubricant reservoir having a double horse-shoe shaped wall received about the path of said crank and having an opening between the lower ends of the limbs of said double horse-shoe shaped wall, said lower ends presented downwardly, said pitman projecting through said opening, a connecting lubricant passage between said lower ends of said limbs, and a lubricant feeding duct between said reservoir and said knife.

i 4l. In a. reciprocating knife cloth cutting machine, the combination of an electric motor comprising an armature-shaft, a crank driven by the latter, a reciprocating slide to reciprocate the knife, a pitman connectllO ing said crank and said slide, a reservoir for lubricating fluid piotectingly located at said crank, and feeding and regulating means fcigthe lubricating fluid between said reservoir and the reciprocating knife, said last-named ineans comprising visual drip ineans for the lubricating fluid and receiving nieans therefor, said visual drip means and said receiving means relatively stationariljyv positioned near the knife within the view of the operator while oigierating the inachine. l

In a reciprocating knife cloth cutting machine. the combination of a foot-plate, a narrow standard rising therefrom.y an electric inotor supported by said standard, said standard having a guidewa)T for the reciprocating knife, crank and pitinan ineans for reciprocating said knife liaifing connection with said electric niotor for being driven thereby, a reservoir for lubricating fluid pi'otectinglv received about said crank and pitinaii ineans, a passage for lubricating fluid from said 'reservoir to direct flow of lnbrieating iiuid to said knife and said guideway, a regulating valve therefor. and viewing ineans neai said knife for said lubricating fiuid between said valve and said knife.

(3. In a cloth cutting machine the conibinat-ion of a knifestandard, a crank at the upper end thereof', a pitniaii for reciprocating the knife in said standard, said pitinan having .operative connection with said crank, and a pluri-walled protective casing about the path of said operative connection, said pluri-walled protective casing forming a reservoir for a lubricant for the knife, and a lubricant passage between said reservoir and said standard. 4

7; In a cloth cutting machine, the coinbination of a knife standard, a inotor mounted thereon, a crank operated by the niotoi, a pitinan'liaving operative connection with said crank, a lubricant reservoir about the path of said operative connection, a reciproeating knife with which said pitman has connection-for reciprocating the saine, said lubricant reservoir having depending portions at the respective sides of said pitinan,

a connecting passage between said depend- Y 8. In a cloth-cutting machine, the combi-` nation of a knife-standard, said standard provided with a knife-slot, a pad at the upper end of said knife-slot, said pad provided with: a slot in which the knife recipiotates, the rear portion of said last-named slot being wider i than said knife-slot for foiining a lubricant receiving pocket at the upper end of said knife-slot, a reservoir for said lubricant, and a passage therefrom having a discharge opening in adjacency to said `knife-slot Aand to said rear .lubricant receiving pocket portionof said 'slotvin said pad. 1

9. In a cloth-cutting machine, the combination of a knife-standard provided with a knife-slot, a motor on said standard, a reservoir for hibricating fluid for lubricating the knife, a drip-valve therefor, a funnel spaced froni said drip-valve into which said drip- Nvalve discharges, and a passage between said funnel and said knife-slot, saidl drip` valve, said funnel and the space between said drip-valve and said funnel located at the front of the machine at the upper end of said knife-standard, and said space presented to View of the operator while operating the machine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my naine inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY A. MEYER.

In presence of- JAMES J. FiTzrATiuoi, Dinars y Vnaiisiiic. 

